CBI arrests three in Rs 1,600 cr investment fraud

New Delhi, Aug 13: The CBI has arrested three persons, accused in a Rs 1,600-crore fraud allegedly committed by Tirupur-based Pazee Group of Companies by duping investors.

The three -- Managing Director K Mohanraj, Directors K Kathiravan and Kamalavalli -- were arrested yesterday from a hotel in Assam by CBI, within two months of taking up investigations into the case.

"The accused were found in possession of number of incriminating documents, one computer, two laptops, good number of data cards, 21 cell phones and many SIM cards of all service providers and credit/debit cards of various banks," a CBI spokesperson said in a release.

All the three were absconding for the past one year.

The fraud came to light in September 2009 when a number of victims approached police. Subsequently, a case of cheating was registered on September 24, 2009 by the Central Crime Branch (CCB), Tirupur against Paazee Group of Companies.

According to CBI, between 2008-09, the group had collected around Rs 1,600 crore from 48,000 depositors on a claim of more than 100 per cent return on their investments within 90 days to one year.

The three office bearers of the group soon absconded after the case was filed. Later, they got anticipatory bail from Madras High Court on October 8, 2009 after they promised to give the due amount to investors.

However, on review of the settlements by the company, the High Court cancelled anticipatory bails of the accused, following which they moved the Supreme Court, which also rejected their pleas on September 21 last year.